Drink through spout cap system for common beverage bottles

ABSTRACT

A drink through spout cap system including a drink through spout cap and a coupler. The inner wall of the base housing can be substantially smooth and does not engage threads of a beverage bottle after the beverage bottle is received within the base housing. The inner wall of the base housing can be lined with a flexible material to enable the base housing to engage with the threads of a beverage bottle to conform to the bottle threads facilitating additional grip and seal. Accordingly, an appropriately sized cap can be used with a selected size of a common beverage bottle, regardless of the threads of beverage bottle. The coupler is received in the beverage bottle for coupling the beverage bottle to the base housing of the cap. The coupler includes an aperture therein for allowing a beverage in the beverage bottle to flow through the aperture to the spout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates a drink through spout cap that can be used with common beverage bottles.

2. Description of Related Art

Caps for fitting on threaded beverage bottles are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,926, issued to the inventor of this application, describes a non-closeable threaded drink through spout cap for common beverage bottles. A cap having a threaded interior is screwed onto the threads of the upper portion of the beverage bottle. A slotted aperture enables liquid to flow through the cap at a decreased volume and rate. The cap makes drinking from a twist top beverage bottle easier for toddlers and/or people who have difficulty drinking from common beverage bottles or who simply prefer a more regulated flow and contoured spot.

Recently, there have been green initiative efforts to conserve the amount of plastic used to make caps for threaded beverage bottles. In this effort, some manufactures of beverage bottles have reduced the cap size and the corresponding number of threads of the cap and the bottle. Other manufactures of beverage bottles continue to manufacture caps and bottles with conventional sizes. Accordingly, a cap having a threaded interior will not fit on all types of currently manufactured beverage bottles.

It is desirable to provide a drink through spout cap providing a leak proof seal that can be used with common beverage bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drink through spout cap system including a drink through spout cap and a coupler. The coupler is removably or permanently coupled to a base housing of the cap. The inner wall of the base housing is substantially smooth and does not engage threads of a beverage bottle after the beverage bottle is received within the base housing. Accordingly, an appropriately sized spout cap can be used with a selected size of a common beverage bottle, regardless of the type of threads of the beverage bottle. The coupler is received in the beverage bottle for coupling the beverage bottle to the base housing of the cap. The coupler includes an aperture therein for allowing a beverage in the beverage bottle to flow through the aperture to the spout.

The coupler can be formed of a plastic, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), silicone, fabric, or thermoplastic material. The coupler can be permanently attached to the base housing of the cap by injection molding by injection molding or via snapping into place using a locking mechanism, notch, ring, or other method.

In one embodiment, the coupler has a tapered shape. Alternatively, the coupler can include a plurality of radially extending ridges of the same or different diameters. The ridge having a largest diameter contacts an inner wall of the bottle below the neck to allow the coupler to be expeditiously inserted into a bottle and provide a leak proof seal.

The invention will be more fully described by reference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side perspective view of a drink through spout cap attached to a beverage bottle.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a coupler used in the spout cap.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the coupler shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternate coupler used in the spout cap.

FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the coupler positioned within the spout cap.

FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram of the coupler positioned within the spout cap in which the spout cap has increased length.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the spout cap including a check valve.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the spout cap.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a gasket found in an inner surface of the spout cap.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a one piece construction of the spout cap and the coupler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a drink through spout cap system 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Drink through spout cap 11 includes spout member 12. Spout member 12 extends from top portion 13 of base housing 14. Spout member 12 can be integral with base housing 14. Spout member 12 and base housing 14 can be formed of any suitable material including, but not limited to plastic, silicone, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Spout member aperture 15 is positioned at top 16 of spout member 12. Spout member aperture 15 can have a rectangular shape. Sides 17 and 18 of spout member 12 can be curved or sloped. Slopes of sides 17 and 18 can be selected to be dental friendly and provide comfort to a mouth of a user. In one embodiment, side 17 can have a steeper slope and side 18 can have a shallower slope with spout member aperture 15 offset with respect to a center of base housing 14 toward side 17. Side 17, side 18 and opposed sidewalls 19 form an asymmetrical pyramid having spout member aperture 15 at the truncation of the pyramid.

Base housing 14 can be cylindrical with a diameter D₁ slightly larger than diameter D₂ of opening 21 of beverage bottle 20. Beverage bottle 20 can be a common beverage bottle in any size, shape and configuration. Suitable common beverage bottles are known beverage bottles for containing water, soda, juice, sports drinks, and the like. Base housing 14 can have a size, shape and configuration to receive neck 22 of beverage bottle 20. Diameter D₁ of base housing 14 can be appropriately sized to be used with an intended size of beverage bottle 20. For example, diameter D₁ of base housing 14 can be in the range of about 18 mm to about 38 mm for receiving beverage bottle 20 having diameter D₂ of opening 21 in the range of about 17 mm to about 37 mm.

Opening 21 extends from neck 22. Neck 22 includes inner wall 23 and outer wall 24. Typically, inner wall 23 of beverage bottle 20 is smooth and outer wall 24 of beverage bottle 20 includes threads 25. The number of threads 25 can vary. The thickness, spacing and trajectory of threads are variable. Inner wall 26 of base housing 14 is substantially smooth and does not engage threads 25 of beverage bottle 20, if they are present, after beverage bottle 20 is received within base housing 14. Base housing 14 and coupler 30 can be reusable and can be attached to various beverage bottles 20.

Gasket 27 can be positioned at top portion 28 of base housing 14 adjacent to spout member 12. Gasket 27 provides a leak proof seal with top portion 31 of coupler 30 after beverage bottle 20 is received within base housing 14.

Coupler 30 is positioned within base housing 14. Coupler 30 can be removably coupled to base housing 14. Alternatively, coupler 30 can be permanently coupled to base housing 14. Coupler 30 is received within opening 21 of beverage bottle 20 for coupling base housing 14 to beverage bottle 20. Coupler 30 includes aperture 32 for allowing liquid to flow through coupler 30 to spout member aperture 15 of spout member 12.

Coupler 30 can be formed of any suitable material including but not limited to a plastic, flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or thermoplastic material. Suitable materials for coupler 30 include thermoplastic rubber (TPR). Thermoplastic rubber (TPR) comprises materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. Suitable materials include copolymers or a mix of polymers, such as a plastic, and a rubber. Inner wall 26 of base housing 14 and gasket 27 can also be formed of a plastic, flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber (TPR) or thermoplastic material, as shown in FIG. 6. Inner wall 23 of base housing 14 can engage threads 25 in order to facilitate additional grip and seal. Gasket 27 can be integral with coupler 30.

In one embodiment, coupler 30 has a tapered shape, as shown in FIG. 2. Diameter D₃ of bottom portion 33 of coupler 30 is smaller than diameter D₄ of top portion 31 of coupler 30. Diameter D₄ of top portion 31 can be substantially the same size as diameter D₁ of base housing 14 for providing a leak-proof seal between coupler 30 and base housing 14 when the flexible coupler 30 is removably inserted into base housing 14 or permanently attached to base housing 14.

In an alternate embodiment, coupler 30 comprises a plurality of ridges 40 a-40 n extending from coupler base 42, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A. Coupler base 42 can be cylindrical and ridges 40 a-40 n can have the same or different diameters. Ridges 40 a-40 n radially extend from coupler base 42. In one embodiment, ridge 40 a has the largest diameter for contacting inner wall 23 of neck 22, as shown in FIG. 5B. Alternatively, ridge 40 a can contact inner wall 41 of bottle 20 at or below neck 22. Ridge 40 a can be used to aid in anchoring coupler 30 to bottle 20. Ridges 40 b-40 n can have decreasing diameters. Coupler base 42 includes top sealing portion 44. Diameter D₅ of top sealing portion 44 can be substantially the same size as diameter D₁ of base housing 14 for providing a leak-proof seal between coupler 30 and base housing 14. The number of ridges 40 a-40 n can be selected to provide a desired vacuum seal between coupler 30 to inner wall 23 of neck 22 thereby preventing liquid from leaking around coupler 30 after beverage bottle 20 is received within base housing 14.

Base housing 14 can have a length L₁ which is smaller than the length L₂ of coupler 30, as shown in FIG. 5A. Base housing 14 can have a length L₁ being greater or substantially the same length L₂ of coupler 30 in order to cover coupler 30, as shown in FIG. 5B.

Gasket 27 and or inner wall 26 can be injection molded through one or more apertures 29 of base housing 14. Gasket 27 can included flanges 39 formed after injection molding, as shown in FIG. 7. Flanges 39 which extend through apertures 29 shown in FIG. 6. Coupler 30 can be injected molded into base housing 14 such that gasket 27, inner wall 26 of base housing 14 and coupler 30 are integral with base housing 14 to for a one-piece construction, as shown in FIG. 8.

Coupler 30 can include check valve 34 within aperture 32 for controlling flow within coupler 30, as shown in FIG. 9. Spout cap 11 can include ridges 50 on outer surface 51.

During operation, a cap (not shown) of beverage bottle 20 is removed. Coupler 30 is inserted into opening 21 of beverage bottle 20. The flexible material of coupler 30 allows coupler 30 to be expeditiously received in opening 21 of bottle 20. Spout cap 11 is received over inserted coupler 30 until gasket 27 of base housing 14 contacts top portion 31 of coupler 30 to provide a leak proof seal between base housing 14 and coupler 30. In an alternate embodiment, coupler 30 and base housing 14 are integral to one another. In this embodiment, after a cap of beverage bottle 20 is removed, coupler 30 is inserted into opening 21 of beverage bottle 20 for coupling spout cap 11 to beverage bottle 20. The spout cap system can be used with a common beverage bottle to allow the user to drink from a contoured spout rather than directly the opening of the beverage bottle.

It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative of only a few of the many possible specific embodiments, which can represent applications of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be readily devised in accordance with these principles by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A drink through spout cap system comprising: a drink through spout cap having a spout at a top end, said spout extending from a base housing; and a coupler being removably or permanently coupled to said base housing, said coupler having an aperture therein, said coupler comprises a coupler base and a plurality of ridges extend radially from said coupler base, one of said ridges positioned at a bottom of said coupler has a largest diameter, said ridge with the largest diameter adapted for contacting an inner wall of the beverage bottle below a neck of said beverage bottle, wherein said coupler being adapted to be received in a beverage bottle for coupling said beverage bottle to said base housing of said spout cap and allowing a beverage in the beverage bottle to flow through said aperture to said spout.
 2. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein said coupler is formed of a flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber, or thermoplastic material.
 3. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein said coupler is formed of a thermoplastic rubber.
 4. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein said coupler provides a leak proof seal to said base housing.
 5. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein said coupler is permanently attached to said base housing through injection molding.
 6. A drink through spout cap system comprising: a drink through spout cap having a spout at a top end, said spout extending from a base housing; and a coupler being removably or permanently coupled to said base housing, said coupler having an aperture therein, said coupler comprises a coupler base and a plurality of ridges extend radially from said coupler base, one of said ridges positioned at a bottom of said coupler has a largest diameter, said ridge with the largest diameter adapted for contacting an inner wall of the beverage bottle below a neck of said beverage bottle, wherein said coupler being adapted to be received in a beverage bottle for coupling said beverage bottle to said base housing of said spout cap and allowing a beverage in the beverage bottle to flow through said aperture to said spout and wherein said coupler has a tapered shape in which a diameter of a bottom portion is smaller than a diameter of a top portion.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said ridges have a different size diameter.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. The drink through spout cap of claim 1 wherein said ridges are adapted to provide a leak proof vacuum seal between said coupler and an inner wall of the beverage bottle.
 12. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said ridges have the same diameter.
 13. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein a length of said base housing is greater or substantially the same as a length of said coupler.
 14. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 further comprising a gasket positioned at a top portion of said base housing adjacent to said spout, wherein said gasket provides a leak proof seal with a top portion of said coupler.
 15. The drink through spout cap system of claim 14 wherein the gasket is formed of a flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber, or thermoplastic material.
 16. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein an inner wall of the base housing if formed of a flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber, or thermoplastic material.
 17. The drink through spout cap system of claim 1 wherein said coupler comprises a check valve within said aperture, said check valve adapted for controlling flow within said coupler.
 18. A method of forming a drink through spout cap system comprising the steps of; forming a drink through spout cap having a spout at a top end, said spout extending from a base housing; and injection molding a coupler to said base housing, said coupler having an aperture therein, said coupler comprises a coupler base and a plurality of ridges extend radially from said coupler base, one of said ridges positioned at a bottom of said coupler has a largest diameter, said ridge with the largest diameter adapted for contacting an inner wall of the beverage bottle below a neck of said beverage bottle, wherein said coupler being adapted to be received in a beverage bottle for coupling said beverage bottle to said base housing of said spout cap and allowing a beverage in the beverage bottle to flow through said aperture to said spout.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the injection molding step further comprises injection molding a material to an inner wall of the base housing, wherein the coupler and the material are formed of a flexible plastic, silicone, fabric, thermoplastic rubber, or thermoplastic material.
 20. The drink through spout cap system of claim 14 wherein one or more of said ridges have a different size diameter. 